South West wildlife rescuers save 250-plus swans since start of December as cygnet crisis reaches new heights

More than 250 swans have been rescued by a dedicated team of South West wildlife carers as an ever growing cygnet crisis reaches new heights.

Busselton-based wildlife rescue FAWNA have taken in 254 cygnets since late December, caring for the growing bevy of swans at their new purpose-built facility.

The mass displacement comes as a result of rapidly changing weather and a significantly weakened ecosystem, according to the swan rescuers, who have seen adult swans forced to abandon their young as their water sources dry up months before the cygnets can take flight.

Lifelong swan saver and founding member of FAWNA Mary McGregor Craigie said she knew this year would be particularly bad for cygnet survival.

She said a number of factors are impacting the swans, with climate change playing a role, but it was the acceleration of the city’s drainage system that kicked off the impending crisis.

“This has been happening since the 1960s, that’s when it first started,” she said.

Mrs McGregor Craigie said the drainage system from the hinterland means the remaining wetlands are susceptible to flash floods which devastate swans during their natural nesting times.

“We get a flash flood nearly every year that drowns all the nests, but these birds aren’t going to be beaten, so they nest again,” she said.

This second nesting is particularly damning for the swans as cygnets hatch far too late in the season and do not have enough time to develop before the wetlands begin to dry.

Some of the cygnets coming into care are less than a month old.

Mrs McGregor Craigie said she has spent most of her summers since the 1960s trying to save as many swans as possible.

“I’m doing my best to keep our State emblem bird afloat,” she said.

With the growing pressure, Mrs McGregor Craigie gave up a portion of her property to construct an enormous $50,000 swan rehabilitation centre called the Kooldjak Castle - Kooldjak being the Noongar word for swan.

The facilities were built just before Christmas by Lizard Landscaping, and has already hosted more than 100 swans.

With new facilities and a growing network of carers FAWNA president Suzanne Strapp said the push to save the swans has been a true community effort.

Mrs Strapp said they have a growing number of community members helping, but there is a strong need for more people to put their hand up to help feed and care from the monsoon of swans in care.

FAWNA member Jill Welby said caring for these swans is the legacy of Mrs McGregor Craigie, but the team at FAWNA are hoping to bring in a new generation of people equipped with a unique set of skills.

FAWNA secretary Lesley Dewar said one of the biggest challenges the team are facing is finding enough food to support all of the swans with Mrs McGregor Craigie saying a whole crate of lettuce only lasts five minutes when put in a pen with so many growing swans.

Mrs Dewar said although the community’s ongoing support in providing food is always appreciated, the group are hoping to transition to buying lettuce wholesale.

“We are looking to start asking for donations to buy lettuce and food for the swans ourselves,” she said

“We would love to have the funds so we can get a steady supply of lettuces and we don’t have to have people running around looking for scraps.”

Donations to FAWNA can be submitted on their website www.fawna.com.au.